Mosquito Trap (Gallery Gun Trap)

[George Davis]

I grow up in central Illinois and we had a gallery range at our high school. We shot 22 shorts at I believe 20 yards.
However occasionally our coach would bring out a 22 smooth-bore (Remington) and a mosquito trap launcher which would throw a mini 15 yards. We shot 22 long rifles with 17 pellets of number 10 shot.
I have the launch (manufactured by Hite Trap) but the current mini are to hard the 22 shells won't break them consistently.
Two things: does anyone have a Remington Smooth-bore they want to sale? and does anyone know of a source for a softer mini?

[John Dallas]

Wasn't the original a "MoSkeetO"?

[edgarspencer]

Have you tried the CCI .22LR Shotshells ?

[George Davis]

No but will order some immediately.

[George Davis]

Had a wonderful experience Sunday afternoon at the gun club. Gentleman had heard we are trying to put together a 22 smooth-bore shoot. He wanted to show us his smooth-bore, he pulls out a model 62 Winchester smooth-bore engraved by Angelo Bee.
IT IS STUNNING!!!

[Bill Murphy]

George, can we see a picture of your Hite trap. I have a mini trap with no name, can't identify it.

[George Davis]

MoSkeetO Trap Launcher made by Hite Trap Company in Kansas City, MO.
Launcher base is 18 by 6 1/2 inches and will throw a mini 15 yards.

[Bill Murphy]

George, thank you so much for the information and pictures for the Hite trap. My trap is a Hite trap, but I had no idea of its provenance because the stick on label is the only identification. If the casting will hold up under stress, the spring can be tightened to infinity, or almost, to sling a longer target. I bought the trap with nearly a case of Mo-Skeet-O targets. I won't shoot those targets because they are so collectible, but modern minis can be thrown out of the same trap, just not so far. Thanks again.

[Randy Davis]

I grow up in central Illinois and we had a gallery range at our high school. We shot 22 shorts at I believe 20 yards.
However occasionally our coach would bring out a 22 smooth-bore (Remington) and a mosquito trap launcher which would throw a mini 15 yards. We shot 22 long rifles with 17 pellets of number 10 shot.
I have the launch (manufactured by Hite Trap) but the current mini are to hard the 22 shells won't break them consistently.
Two things: does anyone have a Remington Smooth-bore they want to sale? and does anyone know of a source for a softer mini?

George, I don`t believe anyone today makes the moskeeto / targo type targets for the .22 Shotshell. Also take a look at Henry Repeating Arms "Garden Gun" .22 Smoothbore. I think Federal offers a .22 shotshell...

RD

[Bill Murphy]

Randy, the Mo Skeet O targets are out of production, but standard "mini" targets for sporting clays are a close fit in a Hite Mo Skeet O trap.

[Frank Srebro]

The familiar 22 caliber crimped brass shotshell will not break modern clay targets (mini, midi or standard) except at ridiculously close range. The period M-S-O black colored clays were made to be especially frangible.

Last year I did extensive pattern testing of (5) lots of vintage and modern 22 caliber crimped shotshells at 11 yards which is the distance specified in the Routledge Patent. Average of five shots with each lot. That was with a Remington smoothbore, a Remington Routledge bore and a regular 22 caliber rifled bore. 75 patterns total. The testing opened my eyes on these 22 caliber shotguns. Unfortunately a resulting article with pics was declined by the DGJ because it didn't "fit their theme of break-open shotguns". I pushed back on that but to no avail.

FYI, here's one of the test patterns..

[Randy Davis]

Randy, the Mo Skeet O targets are out of production, but standard "mini" targets for sporting clays are a close fit in a Hite Mo Skeet O trap.

I know Bill, darn... lucky to have some in the collection. If I remember
Black Products Company (Black Diamond Targets) offered the "Skeeter" miniature target.

RD

[Phil Yearout]

Oh, so I guess this thread is not about...

https://i.imgur.com/BBhpa6Ol.jpg

[Stan Hillis]

I shot .22 smoothbore MoSkeetO at Boy Scout camp back in the early to mid-60s. As I recall, we occasionally used Ritz crackers when we ran out of the little clays. Might be worth a try, George, in lieu of the original clays. Would probably have to back off the spring somewhat, and expect some erratic flight.

SRH

[Eric Eis]

I shot .22 smoothbore MoSkeetO at Boy Scout camp back in the early to mid-60s. As I recall, we occasionally used Ritz crackers when we ran out of the little clays. Might be worth a try, George, in lieu of the original clays. Would probably have to back off the spring somewhat, and expect some erratic flight.

SRH

Didn't Ovis sell a hand thrower for Ritz crackers.

[John Dallas]

Yes they did. I copied the design and found out that many time crackers which were not broken in fact had been hit and had a number of holes. Perhaps a sturdier cracker might be more liable to break than the "mushy" Ritz cracker

[tom leshinsky]

use stale Ritz crackers.

[Stan Hillis]

Yes they did. I copied the design and found out that many time crackers which were not broken in fact had been hit and had a number of holes. Perhaps a sturdier cracker might be more liable to break than the "mushy" Ritz cracker

Maybe I was shooting better than I thought I was!! :cool:

In reality it's the same with clay pigeons. It will hurt your feelings to see how many clays hit the ground unbroken, but with three holes or more through them. Center them in the pattern and that's not an issue tho', eh?

SRH

[Bill Murphy]

At the Ommelanden range in Delaware, in the very early days of American sporting clays, a Remington Model 121 and a Mo Skeet O trap was at one of the stations on the course. The shooter used their gun and their ammo and, as I recall, shot five or six shots at Mo Skeet O targets.

[John Dallas]

Bill - Where was the Ommelanden range?

[edgarspencer]

There's a guy selling 225 cases of targets on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225-CASE-MOSKEETO-mini-TRAP-SKEET-SHOOTING-TARGETS-UNOPENED-Routledge-MFG-rare/114143634409?hash=item1a937da3e9:g:kQMAAOSwXeZdLkL c

[Jack Kuzepski]

John,

Ommenlanden range was off of Route 9 just about 1-1/2 miles south of Old New Castle. It was right next door to the National guard range on one side and a Postal service range on the other side. It was New Castle County land rented by the state of Delaware.

Jack

[Bill Murphy]

Edgar, it's one case with 225 targets in it, starting bid $135. They can't be too rare. Another seller has a 200 target partial case for $100.

[John Dallas]

Bill - Good catch. I missed that. Seemed too good to be true

[edgarspencer]

Edgar, it's one case with 225 targets in it, starting bid $135. They can't be too rare. Another seller has a 200 target partial case for $100.

You’re part right, bill, but he has many cases. There’s a pallet load in that picture.

[Bill Murphy]

But he is offering one case for sale. If he sells that one for $135, he will probably offer more. Good luck with that. That's pretty expensive shooting.

[Joseph Eisenlauer]

I stumbled across this post. I am a collector of .22 smoothbores and items related to miniature clay target shooting. Regarding your trap, a portion of the decal on the trap is missing. If complete, it would read "Bob White Target Company." This is a Bob White Model 80 trap. These traps were produced from c. 1958 to 1970.

[Stan Hillis]

I shot Mo Skeet at Boy Scout camp in the '60s, and remember it well. AIR, the trap was always slightly behind, and to the left, of the shooter, and the targets would quarter away to the right.

It seems that, somewhere along the way since, I have read that someone successfully used fresh Ritz crackers as a substitute for the little clay targets. Worth a try.

[George Davis]

Thank you, Joseph. I bought a Remington single shot bolt action and found a complete case on targets on ebay. But finding .22 bird shot shells has been a tough task.

Planning a fall 2023 family kids shoot in Montana.

[Bill Murphy]

I set up an Ibis three quarter cocker in my driveway. The Bobwhite trap doesn't sling the Mo Skeeto targets very far. The Ibis should throw them a mile if the target doesn't break in the trap. I'll testfire them later today if the weather is good. The Ibis trap is similar to a Lincoln trap but made in Australia. It will throw singles or doubles. The Ibis is a rather obscure brand with no parts available in the US apparently. My trap has been outdoors for probably 15 years, most of those years uncovered. A friend is bringing some midis for me to try, compliments of PG Skeet and Trap.